![An elderly woman on crutches waits outside a train station with bags, buckets, and blankets resting on two wheelchairs beside her. An elderly woman on crutches waits outside a train station with bags, buckets, and blankets resting on two wheelchairs beside her.](../contents/17-181s09.jpg)
An elderly woman waits outside a train station with her belongings in Rome. Caring for an aging population is one sustainability problem that industrialized nations are facing. (Image courtesy of loungerie on flickr.)
Instructor(s)
Prof. Nazli Choucri
MIT Course Number
17.181 / 17.182
As Taught In
Spring 2009
Level
Undergraduate / Graduate
Course Description
Course Features
Course Description
This course examines alternative conceptions and theoretical underpinnings of the notion of "sustainable development." It focuses on the sustainability problems of industrial countries (i.e., aging of populations, sustainable consumption, institutional adjustments, etc.); and of developing states and economies in transition (i.e., managing growth, sustainability of production patterns, pressures of population change, etc.). It also explores the sociology of knowledge around sustainability, the economic and technological dimensions and institutional imperatives along with implications for political constitution of economic performance.
Other Versions
Other OCW Versions
OCW has published multiple versions of this subject.
Archived versions: